This charming novel follows Cecily Foster, a passionate podcaster navigating the complexities of career ambition and personal boundaries. After a painful romantic betrayal, she’s sworn off love—until she’s offered the chance to host her own show. However, she is forced to document her dating life under the guidance of the annoyingly optimistic influencer Eliza Cassidy, Cecily must confront her past while opening herself up to new possibilities.
Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this book!

There’s a meet cute, then… there’s a meet cute, and then a meet cute…. But Cecily just agreed to completing 20 first dates for a podcast in exchange for getting to produce one of her own.
Linda Holmes writes witty banter, with a little bit of spice, and I would give Will a 10/10.
While this is a romcom, all of Cecily’s important relationships are examined as well as her obsession with working, rounding this book off into something a little more. There are also just some great lines, as I must also admit to having what is usually an aspirational apple.
Pick this up for something warm and fuzzy, with just enough angst to move it along.

This was an adorable and unique romance that had me laughing out loud. This book follows Cecily a podcast editor who always wanted to host her own show that is until she gets assigned to Twenty First Dates a podcast of her restarting her dating life with a coach and going on dates with twenty men. Cecily wants to refuse but finds out it will cause her friend to lose her job so she reluctantly agrees. Cecily just happens to meet Will in an adorable meet cute before the dating podcast begins but hasn’t dated in over 4 years Cecily is a little clueless. The 2 main characters in this book were so relatable and likable but some of the side characters felt a little flat and unnecessary. I loved the behind the scenes feel this book had I felt it was entertaining and really interesting learning more about what goes into creating podcasts. This author is quickly becoming a must read for me and look forward to reading more from her in the future. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

Light & fun rom com. Cecily’s character growth was my favorite part, as well as the roles that her work, Eliza, and her friends played into the story. I loved her supports, and how she was such a good friend. There were smaller parts of the story that I enjoyed as well - like how relatable that her massive purse is called “The Beast”. I loved Buddy, loved Will, and loved their banter. The dates themselves summarized in one chapter really was a nod to the crazy concept. I so strongly disliked her ex, her job, and her boss. I enjoyed how there was little nods to recognizing what people are willing to tolerate, and how one size doesn’t fit all for happiness or life plans. I loved how it ended, Such a fun read!

Full disclosure, I've been a dedicated listener of Linda Holmes's podcast "Pop Culture Happy Hour" for years. I've enjoyed her other books and when this one popped up on Net Galley I was happy to be approved.
Much like her other books, Holmes does an excellent job of portraying flawed, but lovable characters whom you hope figure it out. This one focused around the podcasting world felt fresh and lovely. And who couldn't love a book with a giant dog named Buddy?

Many thanks to the publisher, author, and Net Galley for the e galley.
3.75 stars rounded up to 4

An easy read and delight rom-com about a young woman trying to hold on to her place in business. She desperately wants to produce a program of her own and is promised this if only she participates in a new podcast where she is featured as a woman who struggles with dating trying to find love. Single, she must go on twenty dates all the while with the advice of a life coach who tries to make her over and has a rigid plan. But Cecily keeps meeting by chance Will, who she can be real with but the life coach doesn’t believe that love happens by chance. Can Cecily find love and what if it’s all ready there? This is a fun story with likeable characters. I enjoyed it, so put it in your beach bag this summer or grab it to curl up with and enjoy. Many thanks t9 #netgalley #lindaholmes #backafterthis for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thanks to Ballantine Books for the eARC and Penguin Random House Audio for the #gifted ALC.

Narrated by Linda Holmes

Story Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (0-5)
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧 (0-5)
Overall: 3/5
Steam: 🔥🔥 (0-5) Closed door/fade-to-black/limited details

What I’m Starry-Eyed Over:
🤩 The podcast blind dates storyline is intriguing.
🤩 Eliza the dating coach as a side character is great.
🤩 The characters are fabulous and loveable.
🤩 I love Cecily and Will’s meet-cute (chunky peanut butter for the win) and friendship, & the lighthearted intimacy.
🤩 It’s so fun how Will keeps being there in things related to the podcast/dates!!
🤩 The text chats.
🤩 The last 10 percent of the plot was my favorite and so worth it!

What I’m Wishing/Dizzy About:
💫 She has a good storytelling voice but also some hesitations or choppy bits in her phrasing.
💫 Too much background about Cecily’s workplace, etc. It wasn’t a captivating start. I don’t think I’m a fan of waiting until 20% for the meet-cute.
💫 I would have loved more blind date fun in the plot.
💫 The feels were good except those lusty ones. The times before closed door/fade-to-black weren’t very detailed and didn’t help me feel their physical chemistry or connection.

When Cecily agrees to do a podcast with Eliza, an influencer who is trying to break into a new business, she cannot predict the craziness that will ensue. Twenty Dates is the podcast, and Cecily is supposed to go on the dates Eliza chooses for her, as part of the Goddess package she is selling. When Cecily meets Will at the beginning of the podcast outside of the 20 dates, complications begin. It’s a cute story, and Will is a very appealing character, but I think I am older than the audience this would appeal to. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Back After This by Linda Holmes

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Ballantine Books, Penguin Random House, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What a wonderful, heartfelt read full of growth, friendship, and love!

Cecily works for a podcasting company and feels stuck in life, both personally and professionally. She happens to have a meet-cute with Will and there are instant sparks with but it seems like it won’t lead to anything long-term. Cecily is then approached by her boss to take on a new project where she has to go on twenty first dates in an attempt to find love. She reluctantly agrees, with the deal that she’ll be able to take on whatever project she wants afterwards. As Cecily embarks on this journey, she keeps running into Will and she’ll have to eventually decide what it is that she really wants in life.

Cecily is such an authentic FMC and having the plot center on her personal journey rather than solely her romantic life works to show her growth in every part of her life. I also appreciated that the MMC was a bit nuanced and honest about where he is in life, while being eager to advance.

Overall, this was such a sweet, fun read! A low spice, closed door romance with a focus on personal growth, self discovery, and finding love on your own terms.

This is a new author for me, and this book won't be the last book I read from her.

I found this book to be very funny, adored the characters, very insightful (in the end) and her easygoing/laid-back writing was great to read page after page. Will, Cecily and Buddy were my hands down favorites in this story, and I loved reading about the world of producing audio content. Throughout this story you come away with the realization that you have to trust yourself first and foremost, you are the only person that knows what's best for you, especially when meeting your someone special. Seriously, this is a great book!

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book

Loved the combo of growth and romance. FMC learned a lot through blind dating 20 men for a podcast. MMC was perfect. Enjoyed the podcasting parts. A bit winded at times but I had a good time reading this book.

I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher.

I love Linda on the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast, so of course I wanted to get this book. The stakes weren’t high, which meant the tension wasn’t over the top, but I still found it to be expertly written, with fun, robust characters, and a relatable story, Back After This is a satisfying romcom.

4.5 stars

Back After This by Linda Holmes
*out 25 February 2025 in the US*

Plz can this be adapted into a movie? Back After This gave me the same feelings that my favorite romcom films give me and I enjoyed every second! I loved the meet cute with Buddy, Cecily hosting a podcast as she goes on 20 dates to find a partner, and the self-discovery Cecily goes through over the course of the book!
There were a few parts where I actually laughed out loud and Mike looked at me like what is going on lol.
I think the pacing was slightly off for me, but this isn’t inherently a bad thing, just a me issue! I also wish Eliza would have turned out differently and it made me kind of sad lol.
Thank you to Random House Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an advance copy!
#backafterthis #netgalley

Rating: 4.5 Stars

In an effort to save her job and get her own pilot, Cecily agreed to host a self-help podcast. She hated self-help, but after years of rejected pitches, she wanted her shot. So, she agreed to partner with an influencer who would arrange 20 dates for Cecily and help her find love. What could go wrong!

A hit from page one, I swear! I just love Linda Holme's style, wit, and humor. It really is her writing that has made all of her books hits for me, but I also adored the story and characters.

I learned early on that someone did Cecily wrong, so I raged but also funneled this rage into hope and wishes for Cecily to find success and get her show. It didn't hurt that this road to success was paved with hilarity. I never knew a podcast could produce so much rom-com gold, but Holmes made it happen. Cecily's dating escapades were what you would expect and resulted in some side-splitting laughter for me. Her personal journey was also noteworthy. It's incredible how deeply some things wound us and we are unable to really see the damage they have caused. Though it was not gentle, I was glad to see Cecily come to that healing place where she was ready to assert some authority over her own life and career.

But it was The Waiter aka Will, who won my heart. He and Cecily had quite the adventurous meet-cute as they raced through DC trying to capture a runaway great dane. I felt like Cecily was fated to have something with Will. When some random person keeps crossing paths with you, accept that the universe has a plan. When I learned more about Cecily, Will, and their past, I wanted them to be together even more. If you can find someone who likes and accepts you, as is, you must seize the moment and make that happen.

I haven't listened to podcasts in quite a while, but I really found my deep dive into this world enlightening. I rather enjoyed learning all the behind the scenes and ins and outs, and my appreciation for the format has definitely grown.

Overall, this was a fun and charming tale which made me laugh, smile, and want to listen to some podcasts.

What a terrific Rom-Com. I loved this story from the very beginning. How can you go wrong with a Great Big dog that you help rescue and a man who adores you for who you are. Not me. This is a great story if you want to put a smile on your face and learn a little bit about yourself when you read it.
One of my favorite parts of the story is that even though people can give you good advise, you should still go with your gut feeling and you should periodically ask yourself if what you are doing in life is what you want to do, or are you being complacent because it is easy. Another part of the story that I love is how her friends and family are there for Cecily when she needs someone to give her a hug, even if she is in the wrong, That love was very comforting, like a warm blanket And my favorite part of the story is when Cecily keeps meeting Will wherever she went and each time they meet, they always seem to be having a good time. Ahh. I wish everyone had a Will.

I want to thank Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this delightful story about love.

Another one that started slow for me and I debated if I wanted to continue. And another one that I was happy I read! Cecily agrees to host a podcast where she has to work with a relationship coach and share the details of her dating life. Just as she begins her journey to go on 20 dates, she meets Will and sparks fly, but their paths are complicated (individually!) The book is more about Cecily's growth as a woman than the individual dates, which I truly enjoyed. Despite what the book is about, Cecily is not interested in settling for love, compromising what is important to her, or making decisions for others. I enjoyed the relationships, the work life, the character growth. I thought the banter was fun, the chemistry between Cecily and Will was strong. Just an overall sweet, fun and different book.

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

Cecily is a podcast producer who longs to host a show, even though she's been told it isn't the role for her. Her boss gives her a proposition to host a podcast where an influencer turned dating coach will set her up on twenty dates and teach her how to find love. But at what cost??

Cecily is torn between hating self-help and wanting love in her life again. But she feels like she can protect the job of her best friend in the rocky environment of podcasting if she takes this show on.

It also makes things messy that she keeps running into Will, but can anyone really meet anyone in real life nowadays?
Back After This takes place in DC, one of my favorite cities. I wish us readers got to see more of DC throughout this book, but this book is very character centered and it worked well for this book! The characters were all so like able. Holmes has a way to her writing that makes everyone in her books feel like a friend to the reader.

As someone who is no stranger to doing what is expected, as well as someone who’s felt like their life isn’t always where it should be, Will and Cecily were easy to relate to and even easier to root for. The minor characters, particularly Will and Cecily’s sisters and Jules, were also stand-outs. If you love a little bit of right-person-wrong-time, dogs, and romances that just make you feel good, then you’ll love this one!

This is about Cecily who who works as a podcaster, typically as someone who edits the episodes. She dreams of hosting her own show. When the company is in trouble of being bought out, they task Cecily with hosting a show where she goes on twenty dates picked by a life and relationship influencer. However, Cecily finds someone she really likes that’s not part of the dates and can she break through everyone manipulating her to carry on with the relationship she wants? This was okay. I typically do not care for the books this author writes, but this one grew on me. It started out slow, but I liked the concept. This is a book, however, where I disliked all the secondary characters. I liked our FMC and MMC but there was so much manipulation feom everyone around them, that I couldn’t stand it. One thing I really enjoyed about this book was the chapter dedicated to her twenty dates. The chapter would give a brief outline of the man, their date, and the result. I loved it and wished more of the book would have been written in that format. Overall, it’s a good story that I would recommend.

I'm so glad to have another Linda Holmes novel! In Back After This, Holmes takes us into a world she knows well, podcasting, with audio producer and aspiring host Cecily, who gets talked into hosting a show all about her. Influencer Eliza Cassidy coaches her on a series of twenty first dates, with the goal of finding a relationship by the time the show ends. Before the show even starts, though, Cecily meets, and keeps running into, a kind man named Will, who she instantly likes. Back After This follows Cecily's attempts to push through the show she was never really on board with, balancing ambition and a desire to protect herself and those she cares about; her growing interest in Will, who is not Eliza-approved; and to figure out what she wants from work and love. I think what I like most about Holmes' books is how real they feel; the stories and people feel like real life, even with a bigger element - whether that's a popular podcast about one's dating life or a Yankees player in a small town - thrown in. They're charming and sweet and likable, with everyday problems and relatable conflicts, and feel like a real couple figuring it out.